Headlight construction



May 10,1927. 1,628,460 C. E. GODLEY I HEADLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov, 21, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TURTL:IIL J gar/e gg y/e May 10, 1927. 1,628,450

C. E. ECDLEY HEADLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 21, 1924 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k gar/ E fit iii)

Patented May '10, 1927.

mire!) earner enemies sonn or nnrnoir, ivi onisl n, ss e ion, BY Masai. .ese eititzenrs,

r0 0. M. HALL L M COIQPANY, A oonrona rio tor i eii eeiv.

nannie rr' co srnuorioiv. I

I Application filed. November 21, 1924. Serial No. 251,255.

lily invention. relates to automobile headlights and more particularly to amechanical construction and an arrangement of parts designed for effectively employing theprinr ciples of the headlight disclosed in my copending application. No. 745,301, filed October 23, 15724;, on an auton'iobile headlight. In my said copending application, I have illustrated and described a headlamp in Which the source of light is disposed in one end of an ovoid retlector which has a partly ribbed concentrating lens mounted in itsother end, thisretlector having separate portions thereof respectively formed for redirecting light from the said source through differently located foci" including a focusatthe inner focus of the lens. I have "also in my said application disclosed a colortilter disposed in conjunctive relation to certain portions of the reflector and to the lens. 7 I My present invention relates to the structural arrangements for facilitating the man ufacture, assembly and mounting of the parts of such a lamp; for effectively protecting the i l p r reflector and other parts or the lamp agalnst injury from mechanical shocks; for safely housing the needed means for focusing the source of light, and for affording ready access to'j this focusing arrangement whenever anadpistment is needed. It alsoprov des a reflector construction for such a lamp which will readily permit the composite reflector to be manufactured in a small number of parts and desirably in only two parts;.wnicli will insure an accurate alineinent of the separately manufactured reflector parts; which will permit the assembled reflector portions to be supported merely from their ends, and.

which will insure a proper alinement of the reflector with the lens of the lamp. 7

Furthermore, my invention provides simple means upon the housing for such a lamp for supporting the lens and the forward end of the reflector: and provides simple means for supporting the rear end of therefiector, desirably in an arrangement which will 'yieldingly urge'the'entire. reflector member forwardly within the housing. I

In astill further aspect, my invention provides a lamp body adapted to house a reflector of the above described characteristics nd having one section of the bodyremovable for affording access to the interior of this lamp body, provides such a sectional body arrangement in a form in hichthe removtudinal section through the same.

! nane ing the detachable section will not disturb any of the operative parts of the lamp proper, provides an effective lock for normally securingthe detachable body section" inits attached position, and desirably arno rangesthis lock so that it, cairreadily be tions so as'to deter a manipulation of the detachable body section which might cause this section to engage and damage the reflector. Moreover, my invention provides a 'lainpbodyfor such a purpose'which will require a relativelysmall amount of machining, which will afford a-watertight housing for the lamp proper, and which will be handsome in appearance V in an additional aspect, my invention provides a convenient and firm mounting for. the color filter {of the lamp, and for this purpose provides a filter holder which reinforces the outer edge of the color filter and suitable space between sections of the reflector for housing such a holder;

Furthermore, my invention provides novel means for securing'such a lamp body or cas-f ing to a support. I

Still further and also more detailed objects will'a'ppear from the following specification and froin the accon'ipzinying drawin'which' 1 is a side elevation of an automobile headlight embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central and longi- F. 3 is a transverse section ta-ken'along the lne 3 3 of Fig. 2 but drawn on a smaller scale and with a part of the rim of the rear reflector broken away toshoW the clamping rim on the color filter. 3

Fi 4 is a central and longitudinal section'through the lamp body and lens show ing the detachable/body portion tilted to the extent of itsiinitial movement thereof duringthe detaching of this part.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section through adjacent parts of the upper and lower body portions, showing the arrangement of the interlocking formations on these parts. i j

Fig. '6 is a fragmentary rear view of the lamp, taken from the left hand of Fig, 2 and showing a portion of the lock which clamping the lens between this reflector position.

Figa. 5) and it) are respectively a side and a l'ront view ol" the rim tor the color .lilter.

In the embodiment oil the drawings, I am allowing: a headlight including a rectlector and lensarrangement for employing the optical teat urea disclosed in my said copending application L L TJ3lll. For this purpose, the illurt 'ated l1 zadlieht includes a substantially ovoid rrllertor manetrueted out two parts joined al their larger diameters. ()ne of these pa rlr, in i ran relleciior memberl. having ali its rear end an aperture through which a lamp socket, extends in suhstanlially axial, alinenient with the retleetor for aupportina an in nmdeecent lamp 3. and harine" atils forward end a radii l flange =11; surrounded by an annuliirriln 5. This rim 5') is telearra'ied into a rim 6 termed at the outer edge ot a substantially radial flange 7 upon the ttorward relleelor member The reflector member 2 i an an opening in its forward end and has; its extreme forward end formed into an inwardly directed flange 8 Wl'iieh errres in the manner hereafter described l'or holding;- the lens S) against a flange on a lens ring it). i i i i To support ihese p; rte in pro ierly related poaitioin I provide the forward reflector nieinher rearwardly oi the said forward end llanp'e h with a radial flange ll and I secure thia relloetor member to the lens ring ll by ei'irewa spaced eircunrterentially ot the lrna ring. llhie lene ring itaeljt attached to the lower parl l?) of an ovoid body which ap it longitinlinally and clesir: bly subalantially alone a horizontal plane axially at the lamp so as to be composed of lu'o parts l), and i l. The lower part l3 desirably stationary. being secured to an adjacent aupporl by convenient means and preferably by a novel, type or lamp support- Liner c amp hereatunr described. Thir lower body art I?) has the lene ring eoniinilously fastened to it by means of screws l5 whirh extend, througrh an inwardly directed aemiannular and kadiat flange 16 and which. sex-ewe are apaced (:ireumferentially of the said tlanee. With the lens ring thus initialr ly secured to the lower body member and with the tin-ward retleelor i'neniber then att-ai-hed to the lens ring: by screws .12 and and lhe lens, the forward reflector member held in rigid position with respect to the lens and the lamp body thus presenting the flange (l at: ila rear end in a llri'ed pohition in which thin flange can readily serve as a guide :l'or the K ri .i l oinlin lla i on lhr rear reflector member l. .lzienee thin rear .riidleelor member can readily be planed in ita proper position by merely elidinej ill l'orwardly to telescope its; llauee ll into lliemiid tlang z r u an ahon'n in rifle. 2.

To hold the rear relleolior member in position when than alined with the forward rotleetor member by the telescopic interlittinn' ot the said llalnren l: interpose supporting nieann bctwem the rear end of the relleetor and the rear of the ovoid lamp hodyn desirably in the form ofspringnieann which will compensate for any ariatione in the thickneaa of a aching ring 117 dispoaed between radial llaneea on the two reflector members and for permitthn: the ready detaehinc and reattaehing oil ti o rear rellector member. llor thia purpose I am here .--:howin;5 a amine .ttl which haa its :torward end clamped between the rear end of the reflector member l and the hohsihglll oil a toeunine' nieehauiem aaaorialed with the lamp socket 512, and. which spring has its r :ar end abuttingaeainrt the rear end oil the lower body me1nber 13. lly making thin eprine' ell'ectively llehaped in longitudinal eeetionel can readi y permit it to he flexed manually so as to lower body member while leaving the forward end of the spring continuously clamped to the rear reflector member l by the said shell of the toeuaine niechaniani. In plan ning such an arrangement, I preferably leave ample room between the rear end of the rel'leetor and the rear endoil the lamp body or housing to permit access to the screw 51 of the jtocusinp; meehanisnn and also to allow room for a slack wire whieh connects the tirminals of the lamp socket 52 to the terininale oi? a current .suln'ily plug 23 which ez-ztendr through the lower part ot the lamp body.

\Vith the parts lhus; arranged, itwill he ohrioua 'l'roni hie"- that it the upper body member 14- ie removed a manual compresaion of the Spring it will permit the rear roller-tor lnen'ibeix together with the lamp socket. focusing: inerhaniain, the lamp bulb and the aprine' 8 to be drawn bodily out of the housing ot' the lamp. By so doing I secure tree access; to the color tiller l'iereiiliter described. to the forward reflector member and to the inner face of the lens, so as to clean t-l'iese parta it necessary and also to: replace the lamp bull).

To insure an accurate alinine' oi" the two body or "aging parts 13 and lil. I provide these parts with relatively iiiterenmumm lug and recess tormathms disposed along the l rele: re the rear end of the spring i i'oni the off freely.

ime ieo adjoining edges of these two-parts, such as lugs 21 alternating with correspondingly shaped recesses 20, shown in Fig. 5. These lugs and recesses preferably extend along the interior of each part -oi forpart .3 o of tl'l'GtiiilClilTGSS of'eaeh pal-use as to leave. the uninterruptee along-the exteri'oriofthe lamp body thereby affording an in'oonspiouous joint {in :the

'1 flat adjoinii'ig portions closed lamp body.

Since 'thet o body or casing 1mg in-11st be relatively. tilted (as shown in Fi-gmt) to permit the lugs 21 to "clear the'aece'sses 20, before the contracted forwarden'd' of the separable part 14: can be Withdrawn from the bore of the lens ring, care would have to be exercised :to avoid having the forward end of the detachable body part engage the forward reflector section as such an engagerne'nt might easily dent a reflectorseetion formed of thin metal. To obviate the needuofrsuch. special care, I provide means for limitingthe initial tilting of the detachable body part let, as by providing this part near its forward end with a lug 34 which has limited clearanee in the corresponding recess -35 in the stationary part '13. I Thus equipped, this lug 3st engages an endwall of the recess 35 To look thetwo body parts to each-other,

I, provide latching means which;are prefer fleetor sectionas shoWni-n Fig: 2 enteringably disposed at the rear'en d ofthe body. F or this purpose, I am showing the body as having atfits rear end an I annular groove 2 coaxial with the axis of the lamp and enjtending into bothfh-alves of the body-g; This groove normally houses a forwardly projectthe said groove and flange being desirably formed with cam surfaces hvhich will co.-

operatein forcingfthe ty vo halvesof the body towardeach other When the disk is moved forwardly so "as 'to force the flange 25 into the groove 24. "lo'etlect a for in movement I provide a screw 27"extending through the disk 26, and threaded through a supporting fpl'ate ivh ieh is "l o,'sely supported by screws 29 othreadec'l into the detacha' b'le body part 14 $161 11 "the iifte rior bf the latter, *as shown in F 7 and 8.; Then I provide"1neans, 'sudh a grip for limiting the 'un'scren'rng rnov ment of the screw 27, and finter po'se a compression spring 30 betiv een the loeking disk 26 and the supporting plate 2 8.

hen the screw 27 is tigl-rtenedflie eofnipre'ss'ionfof the min ng 30 be veen the parts (itinn'eet'edbv-this screw pre ents' the screu" from being loosened a sn'g :and hence keeps the locking disk '26 in its rlatching "mg-plat "that t lie plate- 28 -outer eild of 'th'e spring.

111g annular flange 25.011 a locking disk 26,,

the

position. I ()n loosening the screw by ITlGililS of afscrewdriver (or of a corn, wh ch can easilybe used as a substitute) the expansion of the spring slides thejdisk ZG'rearx'Vardly 7, thereby unlocking the ilateh 'i'hh' here she ng-tl'ie lower e'ndin, the su V red sons to liti nt'o' *ing 18,

center the forked 1 "To supportthfe color l i lter; which ishe re shownas -eoi'npri sing a semicircular glass plate provided at its diametrie upper edge With'a main-n; I desirably mount "this in aanetzrl rini which reinforces the outer edge -ofth'e glass and which affords means for 'riidlv securing the eolor ii'lter in its r, r .w

proper operative pos1t1on.'- I his run 38 has its ma or port-ion of a cha-nnelsection tightly straddling the curved edgeo'f the glass color l filter, one side of the channel being bent over the straight edge 'of the glass at the opposite fendsof'the said curved edge, so 'as to anchor ithe glassagainst rotation about the'axis of the curved run. Then I provide th s run avithperforations, such as'the screwholes 5.6

at the projecting upper ends of the rim and the'ino'tch '3 in -th'ebottom or medial portion of the run, for receiving screws 58 \vhereby this rim is screwed to the rear face of the outwardly directed flange which connects the rea'r end of the: forward reflec'tor section 2 with the'cylindrical a-niuilar flange 6, ail-as shown in Figs. 2,9 and 10. I also desirably provide a spring 61, -'seeure'd to" the-bottom of the forward 'rea ibottoninoteh in the color filter'and eontinuouslypressing the color filter upwardly into engagement with the rim portions which overhang the diametric upper edge of the color iti'lter. 7

However, While I have illustrated and described various novel features of my lamp in a construction embodying ieertain highly desirable details of eonst-ruct'i'on *and tarrangeme'nt, I do not Wish :to be limited to :Wl1t1 t-lS- .fl1t1S shown. Obviously; many changes might be made Without departing either "from the spirit of my invention or from the appended claims.

, I elaiinas my in'vention:.

; 1 In a iamp, a housing having anopenflector; and a compression spring interposed I -betweenthe said rearend and the back of the housing for forcing the reflector against the-said front. the said spr ng jhavlng its forward end secured to; the reflector and 1 having its rear endin releasable engagement with the, hack ofwt'he housing; the intermedisection with the said apertures in alineinent,

and y'ir lrlin means ,interpohed between the body and the rear reflector section .t'or supporting the rear end Oil the rellect'or and tor holding; the oaidsections in intertitting relation, the eanlinterhtti111: being releasable by :1 compressing of the yielding means to permil :1 separation oil the reflector sect ons.

t. In a lamp, an mm I'Qfltlitt) aperture-d at its torwaril end and haringtwo seotions :nlioined substantially at the greah transverse diinneter oti thi. reflector. the said sections baring relatively intrriittingg' portions at their adjoined ends: for holding them in alinenient, a body housing the roller-tor and having; the forward rctlector section :aernred to its front, and a r0111pressioo spring interposed between the rear ends o t the .retlect'or and the body and secured to only one t-l1ereoi. the i1'1tertitting of the reflector seetliono being so limited as to permit :1 E'Qlifttfitil'lltl'fioil; by a rearward inoronient oil the rear rctleetoia section against; the prersure of the spring thereby permitting the rear reflector section to be detached from the foilwo rd section. y

4. In a headlight, a reflectorhavingat its month an opening bordered by a radial flange. a body housing the reflector and hering at its month an opening bordered by a flange, a lens ring;- sleeved Within the t'lange, screws extending through the flange on the 1 body from the interior of the latter into the lens ring for securing the reflector to the body, the body being split longg'itudinally to attord access to the said screws, and means accessible 'rom within the relleotor for securing the reflector to the lens ring. 1

1 5. A lamp body split along a longitudinal .inodial plane and having; an openingat one end a lens ring alining" with the opening in the body and secured to one part oi the body only, a reflector having its t'orward portion inserted through the said opening: from the rear thereof and having its for ward end scoured to the lens ring, and means 't'or detarhably securing the other part oi" the body to the aforesaid part. 1 i V (3. A lalnp body aplitt along; a longitudinal medial plane and having an opening in one end, a lens ring alinino; with the opening in the body and secured to one part of the body only; :1 reflector sern'irod tothe lens ring, and means for detachably securing the other part of the body to thoatoresaid part; the said I 1110:1115 comprising relativelyinterfitting forona loo ll'ldilOHf's on the lens riiugand the said other body part, and releasable means at; the rear end oil the body lor securing tho;body parts rotlector section to the stationary body aeo tion, and n1 ans :tor delaehably holding the retlretor sections in their normal cooperative relation, both of the 11d aneans haying aeeers thereto atlorded by the relnovingi of the detachable body section. 1 1 1 ti. The combination with a reflector, 'OEIEL hens-inn ha vino its main portion split lonai tndinally of the reflector toa'l'l'ord a detadhable body [nu-t7, the detachable liodyaiartl and other parts of the housing having interen aagrintg' forntations :l'or preventiinr biota, meat ot the said detachable part in an dirertiion a oha the plane of the split when the body parts are in their relative normal diapoi itioni certain ol thosaid interongragri11g torinationa perniittiinr the detachable part to be tilted. to release others of the Hfllll tormotions. and eoarting 111021113011; the body parts for limiting-tho extlent ot such tilting. 9AA lainp construction as por claim 7, in which the twobody portions are provided at their adjoined edges with intorfit't-ino for- 111a tione' f for prevention relati yo movement of the said parts in the said plane,

10. A lamp body splits longitudinally to divide it into two parts, the a d parts havinggf integral interengaging formations; proventing; relative ntoveniient thereof laterally of their juncture While permitting relative longitudinal movement thereof, means at one end of'the body for holding the parts ad joinedat said end, and shinning means dis posed attheother end Joli the body andfro- .loasable fromoutside the body for securing); the parts to each other at: the last named end, both of thesaid 111ea1'1s being mounted on one ofthe said parts and arranged to permit; the detaehing o'lt' the otl'ier part:Without; detaching the aaid means 'tro'm' the part 011 which they are 1'1'1o1111ttod. i y y it. A lainp body conat'rnction as per claim 10, in which the clamping neanscomprise a pair oi? members rcs11eetiieIy engaging opposed inner and outer returface portions of the body at the said other end thereof, one of the nien'ibers being secured to one part of the body and the other inen boohaving formations normally interlocking with both parts (it the body, anda screw connecting; thosaid two 111e1nbers. y I

19'. A lamp body construction asper claim it), in which the Ultlllllllllg ineans'eompriso a pair of members respectively engaging op: posed inner and outer surtaceiportlono 0t 15 means comprise a washer having a flange.

the body at the said other end thereof, one of theinembers being secured to one part of the body and the other member having formations normally interlocking with both parts of the body, a screw connecting the said two members, and a compression spring interposed between the said members for: separating them upona loosening of the screw so as to release the interlocking of the said formations with one part of the body.

13. A lamp body construction as per claim it), in which the two body parts have adjoinedsemi-circulargrooves at the said end of the body, and in which the clamping normallyseated in the said grooves and a screw for drawing the washer towards the said end to hold the flange in the grooves.

lei. In a lamp, a reflector comprising two sections adjoined in continuation of each other, a filter holding rim fastened to one section at the end thereof which adjoins the other section, and a color filter mounted in the said rim, the said rim having a U-shaped portion extending along and straddling the outer edge of the color filter.

Signed at Detroit, Michigan, November 19th, 192a.

CHARLES E. GODLEY. 

